Warner Bros. Discovery’s gaming unit president, David Haddad, is departing after a 12-year tenure, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. Haddad will remain with the company for the next three months to facilitate the transition as the search for his successor commences.
JB Perrette, president of global streaming and games at Warner Bros. Discovery, stated that Haddad’s departure is strategically timed to coincide with a lighter release schedule, minimizing disruption to ongoing projects and the company’s strategic plans. This allows the team to prepare for its upcoming titles.
During his leadership, Haddad oversaw the development and publishing of numerous successful games and franchises, including the critically acclaimed “Hogwarts Legacy,” the mobile strategy game “Game of Thrones: Conquest,” and the popular mobile title “Golf Clash.”
“Hogwarts Legacy” achieved remarkable success, dominating sales charts in 2023 and immersing players in the captivating world of Harry Potter. The highly anticipated fighting game “Mortal Kombat 1” also secured a spot among the top 10 best-selling games of the year, as reported by industry tracker Circana.
However, 2024 saw the underperformance of “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League,” a live-service game designed with in-game purchases and regular content updates to maintain player engagement. The game fell short of both gamer and company expectations. Consequently, the studio responsible for the game announced the cessation of updates following the launch of its final season in January.
Haddad’s departure marks a significant shift in leadership for Warner Bros. Games. The company’s future direction and the impact of this transition on upcoming projects remain to be seen. The search for a new president will undoubtedly be a crucial period for Warner Bros. Games as it navigates the evolving gaming landscape.
